The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 12 Getting rich

Although Teng Yuzao wanted to get this batch of weapons, ammunition and supplies, these things were undoubtedly the property of the Lihe Company, not Christian's personal property. Once the Lihe Company investigated in the future, the bill would probably fall on the head of Christian, the manager, and that would be a considerable amount of money.

Even if Christian's family is very rich, given the nature of foreigners, their family probably won't easily pay off the debt for him.

Teng Yuzao asked hesitantly, "Christian, is this... okay? Aren't you worried that Lihe Foreign Company will cause trouble for you?"

Christian shrugged and spread his hands. "These things were taken away by the militiamen. My staff and I are not soldiers, so we have no power to keep them. If you hadn't risked your life and led the troops to rescue us in time, we would have been shattered to pieces by the mob."

Christian turned around and asked the twenty or so German staff members behind him, "My dear colleagues, is this true?"

The German employees of the Lihe Company who had survived the disaster and were still very excited nodded in agreement. "Yes, you are right, Christian, the fact is just as you said. We are blessed by God to have escaped with our lives today. We have no way of protecting these things. These things were stolen by those thugs. We are deeply grateful to your friends for coming to rescue us, and we will remember it forever."

Alvin also said, "Teng, you don't have to worry at all. My colleagues and I can testify to Christian that everything was stolen."

Alice glared at Teng Yuzao impatiently, "Teng, why are you so long-winded today? Those are all yours. Hurry up, your work is not finished yet, and you have to take us away from this damn place as soon as possible."

"it is good!"

Teng Yuzao waved his hand and said, "Christian, tell your people to stop making noise and come out in order. Follow my people. I will take care of the things in the yard."

Soon, under Christian's arrangement, nearly a hundred people, including the elderly, the weak, women and children in the yard, although still a little panicked, walked out of the back door in an orderly manner under the arrangement of Christian, Alwin and some young Chinese and foreign staff. Among these people, except for about twenty Germans, the rest were local church members, both men and women, young and old. The elderly and the weak, as well as a few women, were all holding their younger children and were arranged on the twenty or so Western horses led out of the yard, and followed Li Xiance's group of people and quickly ran to the street entrance.

While people were still evacuating, the impatient Teng Yuzao took Li Xianze, Liu Bingyi and others into the backyard of the foreign company.

As soon as he entered the yard, Teng Yuzhao was shocked. There were fifteen large carts full of weapons, ammunition and supplies parked in the yard, and pack horses were tied to them. As long as they got on the carts, they could evacuate immediately.

Christian said that Maxim machine guns were set up on the upper floor and in the yard. In this era, these weapons can be very lethal if used properly. Teng Yuzao would never abandon these Maxim heavy machine guns.

Li Xiance had a special liking for the Maxim heavy machine gun. Without waiting for Teng Yuzhao's orders, he had already sent people to the yards in front, behind, and around to look for the heavy machine guns that had already been set up. Teng Yuzhao, who stayed in the backyard, was not idle either. The backyard was the warehouse area of ​​the foreign company, and there were more than a dozen tall and sturdy cement warehouses on both sides of the yard.

Teng Yuzao had no interest in checking out those locked warehouses. The things in those warehouses were either overly heavy civilian mining equipment, which should be mainly finished equipment or spare parts used in coal mines, or bulk materials of low value. Christian would give up on them without hesitation, so he naturally had no intention of looking.

However, Teng Yuzao could not help but check out the warehouses in the backyard that were still open. After a look, he could not help but secretly smack his lips. Although most of the large trucks were filled with wooden boxes, which showed that they were all weapons and ammunition, there was still a warehouse with many wooden boxes. Teng Yuzao, who knew German, naturally knew that these were also rifles and ammunition.

Teng Yuzhao silently estimated in his mind that these German weapons alone would be enough for him to equip two more battalions of troops, of course, battalions without artillery.

Restraining his ecstasy, Teng Yuzao called out Li Xianze's name, "Kangnian, these are the weapons and ammunition that our vanguard army urgently needs. Immediately arrange for your people to drive these carts away, and then have all the longmen come over to carry the remaining weapons and ammunition. Not a single rifle or bullet can be left behind, and it must be done quickly."

After a flurry of activity, they finally moved the vehicles and the remaining weapons and ammunition in the warehouses away. Not only did the porters carry the weapons and ammunition on their shoulders, but Li Xiance's right sentry and Teng Yuzhao's guards also carried their things. Li Xiance was unwilling to give up, so he smashed open several other warehouses, which contained many things that could be taken away. Naturally, Li Xiance would not let go of these good things.

For safety reasons, Li Xianze commanded his troops to drive the dozens of militiamen whose weapons had been confiscated into a large warehouse in the backyard, locked the warehouse from the outside, and then led the final evacuation.

According to Teng Yuzao's request, Liu Changfa had already left Zhenshi Street with the rear guard to protect little Christian and his party, and rushed to the Beiyang Military Academy, leaving only a platoon of soldiers at the street entrance to support Teng Yuzao and Li Xianze's right guard.

After meeting up with the row of people left by Liu Changfa at the street corner, the entire army hurried all the way even though they were carrying a lot of things. The fact that the foreigners from Lihe Foreign Company had been rescued could not be concealed for long and would soon be discovered by the Boxers. Now they could only leave the city as far away as possible to avoid being caught up and entangled by the Boxers nearby.

Although Li Xianze kept running back and forth to urge the troops, they were carrying too many things, so the speed was okay for the first five or six miles, but after that the whole team moved slower and slower. Since they were much closer to the Beiyang Military Academy, they could hear the gunshots if a fighting broke out there. At this moment, no gunshots were heard, and Teng Yuzhao could barely keep his composure.

But seeing that the time was approaching the afternoon, which was already past two o'clock, Teng Yuzhao was really worried and called Li Xianze.

"Kang Nian, the Lord Zhongtang has ordered that the vanguard troops must protect the Beiyang Military Academy. The situation is urgent now, so I'll leave this to you. I'll lead the guards ahead."

Li Xianze naturally knew that they had wasted time coming here to rescue the people from Lihe Company, and there might even be a bloody conflict with the militia. If they tried their best to protect the Military Academy, everything should be fine. But if problems occurred in the Beiyang Military Academy, then they would probably be held accountable together.

Li Xianze nodded and said, "Brother Xingfu, you can go over and take charge of the situation without any worries. Leave this to me."

Li Xianze and Liu Yuzhi were only three years younger than Teng Yuzao. Not only were they older, they were also from the same hometown as Teng Yuzao, and privately they both called Teng Yuzao by his courtesy name.

Teng Yuzao looked towards Tianjin City with concern, gritted his teeth and said, "Kangnian, these military supplies are the lifeblood of our vanguard army, and we must not lose them. We must find a way to protect them. There are many Maxims on the car, and when necessary..."

Although Teng Yuzao did not say the rest of the words, Li Xiance already understood what Teng Yuzao meant and answered murderously, "Yes!"

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(End of this chapter)